Removable sealing device for use to seal a liquid container

ABSTRACT

A removable sealing device is adapted to be mounted on a neck member of a liquid container to seal an outlet thereof. The device includes a seal membrane with a peripheral sealing surface which overlies a surrounding sealing edge surface formed with an edge wall of the neck member to close the outlet and which includes first and second sealing areas that are provided with first and second bonding members respectively with first and second bonding strengths. When the neck member is inverted to subject the seal membrane to the load of the liquid mass while the container is squeezed, the bonding between the second sealing area and the surrounding sealing edge surface remains, whereas the bonding between the first sealing area and the surrounding sealing edge surface is broken.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a liquid container, more particularly to a removable sealing device for use to seal an outlet of a neck member of the liquid container.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] It is required to change motor oil when a car has been used for a period of time. When a container filled with motor oil is inverted, and an outlet of a neck portion of the container is brought toward an oil filler of an engine for pouring the motor oil thereinto, some motor oil may leak to other parts of the engine. To solve this problem, a large funnel is used to facilitate pouring of the motor oil from the container into the engine. However, some oil attaches on the funnel due to its viscosity and may mix with dust. The contaminated oil mixture may be added into the engine during a subsequent oil-adding operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a removable sealing device for sealing a liquid container which is capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawback.

[0006] According to this invention, the removable sealing device includes a surrounding sealing edge surface which is adapted to be formed with a surrounding edge wall of a neck member of a liquid container, and which is opposite to the juncture between the neck member and a vessel body in an upright direction. A seal membrane is formed from a material which does not rupture when the neck member is inverted to subject the seal membrane to the load of liquid mass in the vessel body while the vessel body is squeezed. The seal membrane has a peripheral sealing surface which overlies the surrounding sealing edge surface to close an outlet of the neck member and to form a surrounding peripheral line. The peripheral sealing surface includes first and second sealing areas which are angularly displaced from each other along the surrounding peripheral line. First and second bonding members are respectively disposed between the surrounding sealing edge surface, and the first and second sealing areas respectively, thereby binding them with first and second bonding strengths respectively. When the neck member is inverted to subject the seal membrane to the load of the liquid mass while the vessel body is squeezed, the bonding between the second sealing area and the surrounding sealing edge surface remains, whereas the bonding between the first sealing area and the surrounding sealing edge surface is broken.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a removable sealing device according to this invention when provided on a liquid container;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a portion of the preferred embodiment; and

[0010]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the assembly of the liquid container and the removable sealing device in a state of use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0011] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment of the removable sealing device according to the present invention is shown to be provided on a liquid container, such as an engine oil container. The container is shown to include a vessel body 3 which is formed from a squeezable material, such as a plastic, metal or composite material, and which defines an accommodation chamber therein to receive liquid, such as engine oil, and a neck member 31 which defines a neck passage and which is integrally formed with the vessel body 3 at a surrounding juncture 36 to have the neck passage in fluid communication with the accommodation chamber. The neck member 36 extends from the surrounding juncture 36 in an upright direction, and terminates at a surrounding edge wall 35 which confines an outlet 32 that is communicated with the neck passage. The neck member 36 has an externally threaded portion 34 on an outer surrounding wall thereof. A cap member 1 is disposed to cover the neck member 31 in the upright direction, and has an internally threaded portion (not shown) to engage threadedly the externally threaded portion 34 of the neck member 31.

[0012] The removable sealing device of the preferred embodiment includes a surrounding sealing edge surface 37, a seal membrane 2, and first and second bonding members 21,22.

[0013] The surrounding sealing edge surface 37 is formed with the surrounding edge wall 35, and is opposite to the juncture 36 in the upright direction.

[0014] The seal membrane 2 is formed from a material which does not rupture when the neck member 31 is inverted to subject the seal membrane 2 to the load of the liquid mass while the vessel body 3 is squeezed, such as a plastic, metal or composite material. The seal membrane 2 has a peripheral sealing surface 23 which overlies the surrounding sealing edge surface 37 to close the outlet 32 and to form a surrounding peripheral line 231. The peripheral sealing surface 23 includes first and second sealing areas 232,233 which are angularly displaced from each other along the surrounding peripheral line 231. Preferably, the first sealing area 232 has a surface area which is larger than that of the second sealing area 233.

[0015] The first and second bonding members 21,22 are respectively disposed between the surrounding sealing edge surface 37, and the first and second sealing areas 232,233, respectively. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the first and second bonding members 21,22 are first and second adhesives respectively, and a first bonding strength of the first adhesive is smaller than a second bonding strength of the second adhesive. As such, referring to FIG. 3, when the neck member 31 is inverted and is inserted into an oil filler 51 of an engine 5 to subject the seal membrane 2 to the load of the mass of the motor oil 4 while the vessel body 3 is squeezed, the bonding between the second sealing area 233 and the surrounding sealing edge surface 37 remains, whereas the bonding between the first sealing area 232 and the surrounding sealing edge surface 37 is broken. Therefore, during an oil adding operation, the liquid container with the removable sealing device can be inverted so as to insert the neck member 31 into an oil filler 51 of an engine 5 without any leakage of motor oil 4. Then, the vessel body 3 is squeezed to break the bonding between the first sealing area 232 and the surrounding sealing edge surface 37. No dust or contamination will be added into the engine 5.

[0016] Alternatively, the second bonding member may be heat sealable or high-frequency sealable.

[0017] While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements. 

I claim:
 1. A removable sealing device for sealing a liquid container which includes a vessel body formed from a squeezable material and defining an accommodation chamber therein to receive liquid, and a neck member defining a neck passage and integrally formed with the vessel body at a surrounding juncture to have the neck passage in fluid communication with the accommodation chamber, the neck member extending from the surrounding juncture in an upright direction and terminating at a surrounding edge wall which confines an outlet that is communicated with the neck passage, said removable sealing device comprising: a surrounding sealing edge surface adapted to be formed with the surrounding edge wall, and opposite to the juncture in the upright direction; a seal membrane formed from a material which does not rupture when the neck member is inverted to subject said seal membrane to the load of the liquid mass while the vessel body is squeezed, said seal membrane having a peripheral sealing surface which overlies said surrounding sealing edge surface to close the outlet and to form a surrounding peripheral line, said peripheral sealing surface including first and second sealing areas which are angularly displaced from each other along said surrounding peripheral line; and first and second bonding members respectively disposed between said surrounding sealing edge surface, and said first and second sealing areas respectively, thereby binding them with first and second bonding strengths respectively such that when the neck member is inverted to subject said seal membrane to the load of the liquid mass while the vessel body is squeezed, the bonding between said second sealing area and said surrounding sealing edge surface remains, whereas the bonding between said first sealing area and said surrounding sealing edge surface is broken.
 2. The removable sealing device of claim 1, wherein said first sealing area has a surface area which is larger than that of said second sealing area.
 3. The removable sealing device of claim 1, wherein said first and second bonding members are first and second adhesives respectively, said first bonding strength of said first adhesive being smaller than said second bonding strength of said second adhesive.
 4. The removable sealing device of claim 1, wherein said second bonding member is heat sealable.
 5. The removable sealing device of claim 1, wherein said second bonding member is high-frequency sealable.
 6. The removable sealing device of claim 1, wherein said seal membrane is formed from a plastic material.
 7. The removable sealing device of claim 1, wherein said seal membrane is formed from a metal material.
 8. A liquid container comprising: a vessel body formed from a squeezable material and defining an accommodation chamber therein to receive a liquid; a neck member defining a neck passage, and integrally formed with said vessel body at a surrounding juncture to have said neck passage in fluid communication with said accommodation chamber, said neck member extending from said surrounding juncture in an upright direction and terminating at a surrounding edge wall which confines an outlet that is communicated with said neck passage; and a removable sealing device including a surrounding sealing edge surface formed with said surrounding edge wall, and opposite to said juncture in the upright direction, a seal membrane formed from a material which does not rupture when said neck member is inverted to subject said seal membrane to the load of the liquid mass while said vessel body is squeezed, said seal membrane having a peripheral sealing surface which overlies said surrounding sealing edge surface to close said outlet and to form a surrounding peripheral line, said peripheral sealing surface including first and second sealing areas which are angularly displaced from each other along said surrounding peripheral line, and first and second bonding members respectively disposed between said surrounding sealing edge surface, and said first and second sealing areas respectively, thereby binding them with first and second bonding strengths respectively such that when said neck member is inverted to subject said seal membrane to the load of the liquid mass while said vessel body is squeezed, the bonding between said second sealing area and said surrounding sealing edge surface remains, whereas the bonding between said first sealing area and said surrounding sealing edge surface is broken.
 9. The liquid container of claim 8, wherein said vessel body is formed from a plastic material.
 10. The liquid container of claim 8, wherein said vessel body is formed from a metal material.
 11. The liquid container of claim 8, further comprising a cap member disposed to cover said removable sealing device and said neck member in the upright direction.
 12. The liquid container of claim 11, wherein said cap member and said neck member are in threaded engagement. 